Machine for washing bottles or similar articles.



No. 717,670. PATENTED JAN. 6,19 3- B. GALLAGHER.

MACHINE FOR WASHING BOTTLES OR SIMILAR ARTICLES.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 27, 1902.

H0 MODEL.

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PATBNTED JAN. 6, 1903.

B. GALLAGHER.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 27, 1902.

MACHINE FOR WASHING BOTTLES 0R SIMILAR ARTICLES.

I H0 MODEL.

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BERNARD GALLAGHER, or LYNN, MAssAonUsnrrs.

MACHINE FOR WASHINGYBOTTLE'S OR SIMILAR ARTICLES.

SPEGIFIGATION formingpart of Letters PatentiNo. 717,670, dated January 6, 1903.

Application filed January 27, 1902. $erial No. 91,471. (No model.)

To all whom it rncty concern Beit known that LBERNARD GALLAGHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Washing Bottles or Similar Articles; and I do hereby declare the following'tobe'a full, clear,-and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to machines for washing or rinsing bottles or similar articles.

The object of my invention is to produce an improved machine for washing or rinsing bottles or similar articles which shall comprise a plurality of sets of washing devices which can be readily and quickly moved to bring each set of devicessuccessively from a position in which the washing devices are c0nnected to a source of watersupply to a position in which the washed bottles or articles can be removed and others substituted therefor.

With this object in view my invention consists in the devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In carrying out my invention I provide a rotatable carrier upon which a plurality of sets of washing devices are mounted and provide means whereby each set of washing devices can be connected to a source of watersupply and can be disconnected therefrom during the rotation of the carrier. As a convenient means for connecting each set of washing devices to a source of water-supply and for disconnecting it therefrom I provide the stationary support upon which the carrier is mounted with a valve-seat, upon which a valve carried by the carrier bears, and .form in the valve-seat an inlet-port, which registers successively with ports of the valve communicating with the sets of washing devices. In order to provide a construction by which the carrier will be supported, so as to rotate freely and at the same time be held rigidly from any tipping movement, which would tend to cause the contacting surfaces of the valve and valve-seat to be worn unevenly, I secure the carrier to a vertical shaft journaled at both ends in the stationary support. Such construction I consider a valuable feature of my invention, as thereby the carrier is rigidly supported and the surfaces of the valve and val ve-seat are worn away evenly, so as to always remain in contact and prevent leakage. The bearing for the lower end of the shaft is preferably arranged to support the shaft and the carrier secured thereto, so that the valveseat is relievedof the weight of these parts, and a rapid wearing away of the surfaces of the valve and valve-seat is'prevented. As a convenient means for taking up any Wear between these surfaces the shaft is preferably supported in its lower hearing by means of a bearing-block adjustably secured to the shaft, and in order to hold the valve to its seat a spring is provided, which is arranged to act upon the shaft. The washing devices preferably consist of jet-pipes, which extend into the bottles and serve to steady and aid in supporting the bottles. In order to support a bottle which has been inverted over a jetpipe and atthe same time allow the water to escape from the interior of the bottle, I provide a yielding support, which surrounds the jet-pipe, which preferably consists of a disk of rubber or other suitable yielding material, and this support, in combination with a jetpipe, constitutes a feature of my invention, irrespective of the particular form of washing-machine in which it is used.

The features of invention above referred to and other features hereinafter defined in the claims will be understood from the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated a bottle-washing machine embodying my invention in its preferred form.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan View. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a detail sectional plan View on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, said figure illustrating in dotted lines the position which the carrier assumes after having been turned througha quarter of a revolntion. a j

In the machine shown in the drawings the rotatable carrier consists of a central portion 1, two main pipes 2, extending therefrom in diametrically opposite directions, and branch pipes 3, extending from the main pipes on opposite sides thereof,there being three branch pipes on each side of each main pipe. The main pipes are formed integral with each other and with the central portion, and the branch pipes are connected to themain pipes by beingscrewed into bosses projecting therefrom, as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The branch pipes are in open communication with the main pipes, but the main pipes are not in communication with each other, as will be evident from an inspection of Figs. 4 and 5. The free ends of the branch pipes are tied together by bars 4, screwed thereto, so that the pipes are united into a strong and rigid frame.

The washing devices consist of jet-pipes 5, extending vertically from the branch pipes 5. These jet-pipes screw into bosses on the branch pipes and are in open communication with the branch pipes.

By the construction above described it will be seen that the jet-pipes are arranged in two sets, one set communicating with one of the main pipes and the other set communicating with the other main pipe.

The rotatable carrier is secured to the reduced upper end of a vertical shaft 6, which passes centrally through the carrier,by means ofa nut 7. The shaft 6 is journaled in a stationary support or frame consisting ofabase 8, side standards 9, and a block 10, connecting the upper ends of the standards. In order to provide means for connecting the main pipes to a source of water-supply and for disconnecting them therefrom, the upper surface of the block 10 is formed into a circularvalve seat 11 and the lower surface of the central portion 1 of the carrier is arranged to bear against the valve-seat and form a circular-valve 12. An inlet-port l3, communicating with asource of water-supply is formed. in the valve-seat, and two ports 14, communicating with the main pipes 2, are formed in the valve, the arrangement being such that either valve-port can be brought to a position over the inlet-port and the other valve-port removed from such position by rotating the carrier through half a revolution. The valve 12 is held to its valve-seat 11 by means of a coiled spring 15, surrounding the shaft 6 and interposed between the lower surface of the block 10 or a washer 16 and an adjustable block 17, having a screw-threaded engagement with the shaft and locked in adjusted position by means of a screw 18. The upper bearing for the shaft 6 in the block 10 is arranged to allow the shaft to move endwise therein. The bearing for the lower end of the shaft 6 is formed in a boss projecting upwardly from the base 8, and the shaft is supported therein by means of a block 19, adj ustably secured to the shaft by means of a set screw 20. The lower end of the block 19 is cone-shaped and fits into a correspondinglyshaped bearing-surface in the boss. The block 19 is secured to the shaft 6 in such a position that the weight of the shaft and the rotatable carrier is supported by the lower bearing, and thereby excessive friction between the surfaces of the valve 12 and the valve-seat 11, with a consequent rapid wearing away of these surfaces, is prevented. In case the surfaces of the valve and valve-seat or of the block and the lower bearing become worn the block 19 can be adjusted on the shaft to take up such wear. It will be noted that the shaft 6 projects downwardly a considerable distance from the carrier and by being supported by bearings at each end effectively prevents any tipping movement of the carrier during its rotation. It is intended that the valve should be held to its seat by the action of the spring 15, so as to prevent the water from escaping between the surfaces of the valve and valve-seat. In order, however, to deflect downwardly any water which might escape, the valve 12 is surrounded by a downwardly-projecting flange, which extends beyond the valve-seat and fits snugly against the cylindrical surface of the upper end of the block 10.

In using the machine the bottles are placed mouth down over the jet-pipes 5, and in order to support the bottles the base of each jet-pipe is surrounded by a disk or washer 21, of yielding material,such as rubber. But one of these disks is illustrated in the drawings; but it will be understood that a disk is provided for each jet-pipe 5. In order to allow the water to escape from the interior of the bottle, the upper surface of the disk 21 isprovided with radially-extending ribs, as shown.

The operation of the machine above described will be readily understood from an inspection of the drawings and from the preceding description and may be briefly described, as follows: Starting with the carrier in the position indicated in the figures of the drawings,in which position the set of jet-pipes communicating with the main pipe 2 at the right of the figures is connected to the source of water-supply through one of the valve-ports 1i and the inlet-port 13 and the set of jetpipes communicating with the main pipe 2 at the left of the figures is disconnected from the source of water-supply, the operator places a bottle over each of the jet-pipes of the latter set and then swings the carrier through half a revolution. This movement of the carrier reverses the positions of the two sets of jet-pipes, the set of jet-pipes over which the bottles have been placed being now connected to the source of water-supply and the other set of pipes being disconnected therefrom. While the bottles which have been-placed upon the jet-pipes which are now connected with the source of water-supply are being washed, any bottles which may have been previously placed upon the other set of jetpipes are removed therefrom and another set of bottles substituted therefor. The carrier is then again rotated through half a revolution, thereby again reversing the positions of the two sets of jet-pipes. It will be noted that while one set of jet-pipes is connected to the source of water-supply and the bottles supported thereon are being washed the other set of jet-pipes is disconnected therefrom and is in a position to allow the bottles which" have been washed to be removed therefrom and others substituted. The entire time of the operator is thus occupied in removing and replacing the bottles and the washing operation is performed readily and without any special attention on his part.

It will be understood that while the machine above described embodies the various features of my invention in the best form at present known to me, my invention, except as recited in the claims, is not specifically limited thereto, but may be embodied in various constructions without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. A machine for washing bottles or similar articles, having, in combination, a stationary support provided with a valve-seat,-a shaft journaled in said support, a rotatable carrier secured to said shaft provided with a valve, a spring acting on the shaft to hold the valve to its seat, and a plurality of sets of washing devices mounted on said carrier, said valve-seat being provided with an inlet-port and said valve being provided with a plurality of ports communicating with the sets of washing devices arranged to be brought opposite the inlet-port successively by rotation of the carrier, substantially as described.

2. A machine for washin g bottles and similar articles, having, in combination, a stationary support provided with a valve-seat, a vertical shaft journaled in said support, a bearing for the upper end of the shaft permitting an endwise movement of the shaft therein, a supporting-bearing for the lower end'of the shaft, a rotatable carrier secured to the shaft provided with a valve, and a plurality of sets.

of Washing devices mounted on said carrier,

substantially as described. 3. A machine for washing bottles and similar articles, having, in combination, a stationary support provided with a valve-seat, a shaft journaled in said support, a bearing for each end of the shaft, a carrier secured to the shaft provided with a valve and a plurality of sets of washing devices mounted on said carrier, substantially as described.

4. A machine for washing bottles and similar articles, having, in combination, a stationary support provided with a valve-seat, a vertical shaft journaled in said support, a bearing for the upper end of the shaft permitting an endwise movement of the shaft therein, a supporting-bearing for'the lower end of the shaft, a rotatable carrier secured to the shaft provided with a valve, a spring acting on the shaft to hold the valve to its seat, and a plurality of sets of washing devices mounted on said carrier, substantially as described.

5. A machine for Washing bottles and similar articles, having, in combination, astation- .ary support provided with a valve-seat, a vertical shaft journaled in said support, a bearing for the upper end of the shaft permitting an endwise movement of the shaft therein, a bearing-block adj ustably secured to the lower end of the shaft, a supporting-bearing therefor, a rotatable carriersecured to the shaft provided with a valve,'and a plurality of sets of washing devices mounted on said carrier,

substantially as described.

6. A machine for washing bottles and similar articles, having, in combination, a stationary support provided with a valve seat, a vertical shaft journaled in said support, a bearing for the upper end of theshaft permitting an endwise movement of the shaft therein, a bearing-block adj ustablysecured to the lower end of the shaft, a supporting-bearing therefor, a rotatable carrier secured to the shaft provided with a valve, an adjustable spring acting on the shaft to hold the valve to its seat, and a plurality of washing devices mounted on said carrier, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BERNARD GALLAGHER. Witnesses:

ALFRED H. HILDRETH, FRED O. FISH. 

